Massachusetts Hospitals Revise Reporting Policies for Newborns with Drug Exposure

Massachusetts General Brigham hospitals will no longer report suspected abuse or neglect to state child welfare services based solely on the presence of drugs in a baby’s toxicology report, aiming to reduce stigma of addiction among Black mothers and address inequities in substance use disorder care. The change in policy, based on sound science, will require written consent for toxicology testing of expectant mothers or infants and limit testing to cases where results will change medical management. The hospital system aims to provide safe and equitable care for all patients and remove racism in healthcare.